DC Comics, partially thanks to the DCEU as well as intensely brutal comic stories like Identity Crisis, Infinite Crisis, and Blackest Night, has gotten the reputation of being the darker of the big two comic book companies in recent years. What was once the gleaming home of Superman and Wonder Woman has become the gloomy haven of Batman and the Suicide Squad.
However, perception isn't everything, and DC Comics isn't just one thing. There are still uplifting and lighthearted DC Comics out there; people just need to know where to find them.
10 The Super Sons, The Children Of Superman & Batman
The Super Sons was originally a story in World's Finest back in 1973 (though the characters dated back to the 1960s). The idea was revamped and recreated by Peter J. Tomasi and Jorge Jimenez with DC Rebirth in 2017. This united Jon Kent aka Superboy, the son of Superman and Lois Lane' and Damian Wayne aka Robin, the son of Batman and Talia al Ghul.
Robin and Superboy didn't get along well at first, but they formed a bond over time while dealing with the likes of Bizarro Boyz, Chemo, and Doomsdame. It's a fun series about a pair of very different boys learning how to be heroes and forming a strong bond of friendship. The main series has ended, but it has continued with two maxiseries, Adventure of the Super Sons and Challenge of the Super Sons, as well as a series of graphic novels.
9 Young Justice, The Next Generation of DC Superheroes
Young Justice was a team that wanted to be apart from the Teen Titans and the Justice League. It started with Robin (Tim Drake), Superboy (Connor Kent), and Impulse (Bart Allen) creating their own team and blossomed with members like Wonder Girl, Red Tornado, the Ray, and Arrowette. However, this was a late 1990s book and was prone to getting pretty heavy and intense.
Later, though, Young Justice was resurrected with a new team in 2019 by Brian Michael Bendis and Patrick Gleason. It featured new members Teen Lantern, Jenny Hex, Naomi, and Amethyst of Gemworld. It was a comical and energetic book that reminded readers how fun comics can be.
8 Green Lantern: Legacy, The Story Of The Youngest Green Lantern
Green Lantern: Legacy was a graphic novel by Minh Le and Andie Tong. It stars Tai Pham, a young Asian American in Coast City. He discovers that his grandmother was a Green Lantern, and he is gifted her ring after she passes.
With this ring, Tai Pham becomes a Green Lantern and tries to live up to the legacy of his grandmother while defending his neighborhood from a gang of bigots. It's a story about identity, coming of age, and, of course, being a hero.
7 Rebirth: Blue Beetle, The Odd Couple Who Use The Same Superhero Name
Jaime Reyes and Ted Kord found themselves sharing a new Blue Beetle title with DC Rebirth. Keith Giffen and Scott Kolins headed this series that found these two men, who shared nothing aside from a superhero name, trying to get along with one another.
While the story could get pretty heavy at times, the series was largely comical and fun. Jaime and Ted learn how to work together and save the world from threats native to both Earth and other dimensions.
6 Rebirth: Green Lanterns, The Story Of Willpower Forging The Strongest Friendship
Another upbeat and entertaining Rebirth title, this one starred the at-the-time two newest Green Lanterns from Earth: Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz. Like Jaime and Ted, these two heroes had a hard time getting along with one another at first, but they were tasked with protecting the Earth while the other Earthling Lanterns were off-world. This one was launched by Geoff Johns, Sam Humphries, Ethan van Sciver, Ed Benes, and Robson Rocha.
While threats like Atrocitus, the Phantom Lantern, and Doctor Polaris could bring some deadly threats and heavy concepts to the fore, the series always had a good and endearing heart to it as Jess and Simon become the best of friends. Also, Jessica Cruz slugs Guy Gardner at one point.
5 Rebirth: Titans, The Return Of The Original Teenage Heroes
The last Rebirth title that this list will spotlight, Titans by Dan Abnett and Brett Booth was the much-awaited return of former Flash Wally West. It reunited him with his teammates Nightwing, Donna Troy, Tempest, Arsenal, and Omen.
While the series was largely occupied with discovering what caused Wally to disappear, much of the book was a lighthearted team book about a team of superheroes that were also one another's best friends. It was a delightfully upbeat read, but it took a significantly gloomier turn once Heroes in Crisis took place.
4 Future State: Wonder Woman, The Next Amazon Champion
With DC's Future State, a new Wonder Woman was introduced in Yara Flor. She is a Brazilian woman with an at-first unknown connection to the Amazons and Wonder Woman. This story finds her trying to enter the realm of Tartarus to recover her sister from Hades. This tale was written and drawn by major talent Joelle Jones.
Yara is a confident, chatty, and downright funny superhero who instantly wins over the reader. This is only a two-part story, but Yara is getting a miniseries soon in Wonder Girl, also by Joelle Jones.
3 Infinite Frontiers: Nightwing, The First Robin Soars Again
With Future State's conclusion came Infinite Frontiers, which is supposed to be an era of the DC Universe reaching into the future and pushing the boundaries of what's possible. One of the spotlighted heroes in this new era is Nightwing, who has just come back from losing his memory and then being mind-controlled by the Joker.
Nightwing is back to his old self, cracking jokes, and keeping the streets of Bludhaven safe. This era of Nightwing started with Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo with #78 and is only at three issues at the time of writing. Despite that, it's already one of the brightest gems of Infinite Frontiers.
2 Supergirl: Being Super, The New Origin For The Girl Of Tomorrow
This is a miniseries starring the Girl of Tomorrow by Mariko Tamaki and Joelle Jones. It retells the origin of Supergirl as a high school student who has to grapple with her powers and what to do with them. This is a coming-of-age tale that finds Supergirl trying to decide if she wants to hide her powers and live a normal life or be, well, super.
It's another uplifting tale about identity and purpose brought to life by the incredible artwork of the very talented Joelle Jones.
1 Superman: For All Seasons, The Greatest Superman Story Ever Told
This is the oldest comic on the list (even if 1998 doesn't feel that long ago) and comes to us from Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, creators of such landmark comics as Batman: The Long Halloween and Daredevil: Yellow. It is a retelling of the Superman story through the changing of seasons.
This is one of the great stories that reminds readers why they love Superman. It's endearing, fun, and explores the core of the character and how he became the man he is. It's an absolutely delightful read and one of the most uplifting comics DC has ever put out.
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